Air conditioning apparatus



May 23, 1933.

A. H. KUNDEE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. '7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MKW ATTORNEYS May 23, 1933.

A. H. KUNDEE AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. '7, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO RN EYS y 1933- A. H. KUNDEE 1,910,110

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORN Ew Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT n. immune, or nowaorac, moment ASSIGKOR TO, rmma wnnm Am HEATER COMPANY, OI DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN,

A'CQRPORATION OF MICHIGAN AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Application fled December 1;,1931. Serial No. 579,555.

Ths invention relates generally to air conditioning means, especially means for moistening, cleansing, purifying and moving the air, and refers more particularly to appara- 6 tus for accomplishing mechanically the ideal results obtained naturally by the elements on a fine spring day.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type wherein means are provided for saturating the incoming air with a fine fog-like mist, drawing the saturated air into blowers where it is churned and further mixed, directing the mixture, through hard driving curtains of water spray so that dust and other particles burdened with the moisture taken on in the mixing chamber will be washed downwardly into a suitable drain, and causing the washed air to follow a circuitous path so that any carried water and/or dust particles will be eliminated therefrom. I

Another object is to provide anapparatus wherein the supply of water to the mixin chamber nozzles is controlled automatically Another'object is to provide an apparatus wherein means is provided for regulating the supply of waterto the Washing cham- 7 her nozzles whereby they may operate under a humidity control independently of the mixing chamber vnozzles.

Another ob'ect is to provide an a paratus wherein twin blowers are provided or drawing air into one chamber to be saturated by the fog-like mist and for vforcing the saturated air. into the washingv chamber and through the curtain of water therein'so that dust and other particles carried'by the air will be forced downwardly into a suitable drain. j

Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein. the I blower supports carry the weight of the blowers independently of the unit housing as a whole so as to avoid strain and distortion andare preferably bolted directly to the floorso as to increase rigidity and avoid transmission and amplification of objectionable sound through the unit housng.

I through standard sized shaft 17,

Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein the blower supports are split, wh er eby the top section of the unit may beremoved. fromthe basej'section ,for passage doorways at the time of installation. 1 7

Another object is to provide an apparatus Whereinall the Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, es ecially when considered in connectlon wit wherein: p

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view thropgh the construction illustrated in Figure Figure 3 is. a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

a Figure 4 is 'a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective viewof the apg paratus with the eliminator and washing chamber covers Figure 6 is a port member. I

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a housremoved from the housing; slde elevatlon of the suppartition 2 to the'chamber 4; 13 is an,electrlc motor having a shaft 14 provided with parts are readily accessible.-

er 3 atthe accompanying drawings,

ing divided by an upright partition'2 into chambers 3 and 4 respectively and having a supporting) a pulley 15 and having anadjustable su port 16 of resilient material capable of a sorbing vibration. 17 is a shaft common to both blowers 7 and 8; 18, 19 and 20 respec-- tively are three speed pulleys rigid with the able'with the pulleys 1'8 and 20 depending upon the adjustment of the motor support 16 relativethereto. 22 is a hood or covering for the pulleys and beltnormally lashed to the'h'ousing 1 but removable togive access and 2 1 is a belt trained upon the pulleys 15 and 19 and successively engage-- to the pulleys and belt. Preferably the blowers 7 and 8 are of the multivane (squir- 10 faces for obtaining an effective 'grip on the 1 air. By clipping the air instead of striking it the utmost in quietness is realized. Any suitable means (not shown) such as a thermostat located in the top casing of a heating unit and electrically connected to the-motor 13 may be used to control the operation of the motor 13 and blowers 7 and 8. The supports 26 and27 respectively for the blowers preferably carry the weight thereof independently of the housing 1, thereby avoidin strain and distortion. In fact, they are bo ted directly to the floor 6 and thereby increase rigidity and avoid transmissionand amplification of objectionable sound through 2 the housing, suitable insulation 28 being provided at the joints for this purpose. Preferably the supports 26 and 27 are split horizontally at 26 and 27 respectively so that the upper sections 29 and 30 thereof may be p 30 moved with the housing 1 through doorways of standard sizes-when the apparatus is being installed.

In the present instance water from a suitable source and controlled by a thermostati- 8 cally actuated valve 32 is supplied through pipes 33 and 34 respectively to nozzles 35, 36, 37 and 38 respectively in the chambers 3 and 4. As shown, the pipe 34 extends" lengthwise of the chamber 4 adjacent the 40 partition 2,; while the pipe 33 extends across the chamber 3 adjacent the open top thereof through the partition 2 to the pipe 34. Preferably a'hand actuated valve 39 is located in the pipe 34 adjacent thepoint .of con- 46 nection. in the chamber 4 with the pipe 33 for controlling the supply of water to said pipe 34. The nozzles and 36 preferably incline downwardly from opposite sides of the pipe 33 at approximately the longitudi- 50 nal median line of the chamber 3 and preferably have pin point openings 40 for forming a fine water mist to saturate the air, while the nozzles37 and 38 preferably incline downwardly from the pipe 34 at spaced 65 points longitudinally thereof and have slots 41 through which the water may be discharged to form solid curtains of water immediately in front of the blower outlets 11 and 12 respectively. 42 is a pipe for supwplying water to the pipe 34 and 43 is a valve operable automatically by a humidity control (not shown) for regulating the sup ply of water fromwthe pipe 42 to the pipe 34- 05 is a drain the bottom 45 of the housof water aforesaid from the nozzles 37 and 38. Preferably this device 45 is termed an eliminator and comprises a frame 46 containing spaced vertical plates 47 arranged in zigzag formation for directingthe air in a circuitous path and causing any carried gvater or dust particles to be trapped there- 48 and 49 respectively are removable covers for the'chamber 4, 50 and 51 respectively are hand holes on the top of the eliminator frame 46 to. facilitate the removal of the eliminator from or the insertion thereof in the chamber 4. As shown, the cover 48 fits over the walls 52, 53 and 54 respectively of the chamber 1 and has a longitudinally extending trough portion 55 at its rear edge, while the cover 49 is received in the trough 55 and in cooperating troughs 56, 57 and 58 V respectively on the walls 53, 2 and 54 respectively of the chamber.

In use, air from within the building where the apparatus is installed is drawn through metal ducts (not shown) andthrough the open top of the chamber 3 into the latter where it is saturated with a fine fog-like mist produced by forcing water under pressure through the pin point nozzles 35 and 36. The air thus-saturated is drawn into the blowers 7 and 8 where it is further mixed and churned by the rapidly revolving blades thereof and is delivered from the outlets 11 and 12 into the chamber 4. In being discharged into the chamber 4 the air is compelled to pass through curtains of water from the nozzles 37 and 38, consequently dust particles carried in the air and weighted with the moisture taken on in the chamber 3 are drivendownwardly by said curtains of water to the drain 44.

The small percentage of dust particles successful in making passage through this chamber 4 without being driven down into the drain 44 are trapped by the zigzag plates 47 of the eliminator 45. Unevaporated water particles are also trapped by the plates 7 47 and together with the trappeddust travel downwardly toward the drain 44. The air thus cleansed and free from moisture may be delivered from the eliminator 45 into a chamber (not shown) of a suitable heating unit to be warmed before being circulated through the building, or in the summer may be delivered directly into suitable circulating pipes (not shown).

When the water is amply cold, as it is in most localities where the water mains are buried sufliciently deep, the further cooling i which takes place when the water is atomized and mixed with the air will lower the temperature below the dew point, causing the air to be r old and dry, ridding the rooms above of excessive heat and humidity, the

dry air acting as an absorbent. If the tembe regulated in any season by adjustment of the valve 32 controlling the pressure of the water delivered to the pipes 33 and 34. Moreover the nozzles in both the mixing and washing chambers 3 and 4 respectively are so designed that their efliciency is not impaired by reducing the water pressure.

By using the three speed pulleys 18, 19 and 20. respectively the speed of the blowers may be adjusted to an one of three speeds. .In the wintertime t e blowers may be operated at a comparatively low speed while in the summertime the belt 21 may be shifted to the high speed pulleys 18 so that the blowers will be accelerated.

By forcing theair by means of twin blowers, the apparatus may be located in any part of a basement, wherever desired, differing from antiquated gravity systems which of necessity had to be located under the approximate center of the house. Not only this, but the circulating pipes may be made smaller and located up between the joists, allowing a maximumof headroom in the basement. -Upstairs the registers may be located high'up on the walls, out of the i way of furniture.

The most important advantage of forcing the air, however, is that quick and uniform circulation is made possible throughout the entire home. Irregular distribution of warmth and the delay in obtaining the proper degree of. warmth have long been outstanding objections to ravity type systems. All this, however, is c anged with the use of blowers. No longer is the air allowed to move whenever and wherever it pleases.

\ Circulation is forced. Every room of a home may be reached by gently moving air, moist and clean-and reached 'uickly.

Should. humidity within the uildin become greater than desired because 0 increased humidity outside, the valve 39 may be closed to shut ofi the supply of water to the nozzles 37 and 38. Thus humidity may be reduced without sacrificing the cleaning effect of the water from the sprays 35 and 36. Moreover, the provision. of this valve 39 permits the nozzles 37 and 38 to receive water from the pipe 42 independently of the nozzles .35 and 36 controlled by the valve'32.--

.Preferably the part 2 includes -,a section 2' that is removable to provide for gravity flow of the air in case of failure of any of the mechanism. As shown, the section 2 is held in place by suitable bolts 2" and single nuts 2" which are readily accessible.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

Air conditioning apparatus of the class described including a housing having adjacent chambers, a water pipe extending across one of said chambers, a water pipe extending lengthwise of the other chamber and connected to the first mentioned vpipe so as to receive water therefrom, twin'blowers within the-first mentioned chamber having substantially aligned inlets and having subsecond chamber, nozzles inclining from the first mentioned pipe toward the aligned inlets of said blowers, and nozzles inclining from the second mentioned pipe toward the blower outlets.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

- ALBERT H. KUNDEE. 

